Live Video of Flames Engulfing Kiev's Independence Square as Protesters Clash With Police

This is a live feed from Espreso TV


Ukrainian police are storming the main anti-government protest camp in the capital, Kiev, after months of occupation.

Explosions are taking place, fireworks are being thrown and large fires have broken out in Independence Square, known locally as the Maidan.

Police have deployed water cannon.

During the day, at least 13 people were killed, including six policemen, as protesters and security forces clashed in the worst violence in weeks.

Security forces had given protesters a deadline of 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) to end the unrest and had surrounded Independence Square, which has been the scene of a mostly peaceful protest camp since November.


Analysis

Marta Shokalo
BBC News, Kiev
Exactly a month ago, the nation was shocked by the deaths of protesters during clashes with riot police in central Kiev. On Tuesday Ukrainians again saw dead bodies strewn on the city streets, dozens of injured people.

Despite the shock, many came to the main protest camp, the Maidan, to support activists trained to defend barricades from the riot police.

Crowds grew as streams of people, including women, headed to the Maidan. Many had to walk as Kiev's metro was completely shut down for the first time since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.

The authorities said they had closed the metro because of the danger of "terror acts" in the capital.